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May 7, 1963 A. P. DOUGLAS JUVENILE VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION OriginalFiled June 29, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ALVIN P. DOUGLAS BYlam-MM, 724 *JM ATTORNEYS y 1963 A. P. DOUGLAS Re. 25,382

JUVENILE VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Original Filed June 29, 1959 8Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALVIN P. DOUGLAS ATTORNEYS May 7, 1963 A. P.DOUGLAS JUVENILE VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Original Filed June 29, 19598 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ALVIN P. DOUGLAS BY MZZ', Ta y 4 5 3gATTORNEYS May 7, 1963 A. P. DOUGLAS JUVENILE VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTIONOriginal Filed June 29, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ALVIN R DOUGLASINF,

ATTORNEYS May 7, 1963 A. P. DOUGLAS Re. 25,382

JUVENILE VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June29, 1959 INVENTOR ALVIN P. DOUGLAS ATTORNEYS y 7, 1963 A. P. DOUGLAS Re.25,382

JUVENILE VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Original Filed June 29, 1959 8Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. I2

FIG. l4

INVENTOR ALVIN F. DOUGLAS ATTORNEYS y 1953 A. P. DOUGLAS Re. 25,382

JUVENILE VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Original Filed June 29, 1959 8Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR ALVIN P. DOUGLAS ATTORNEYS May 7, 1963 v A. P.DOUGLAS JUVENILE VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Original Filed June 29, 19598 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. 9

FIG. l8

INVENTOR 20 ALVIN F! DOUGLAS BY u 'fl 7; Y W ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent Ofihce Re. 25,382 Reissued May 7, 1963 25,382 JUVENILE VEHICLEBODY CONSTRUCTION Alvin P. Douglas, Nashville, Tenn., assignor to TheMurray Ohio Manufacturing Company, Nashville, Tenn., a corporation ofOhio Original No. 3,036,857, dated May 29, 1962, Ser. No. 823,754, June29, 1959. Application for reissue Dec. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 246,299

16 Claims. (Cl. 296-28) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention is concerned with a juvenile vehicle bodyconstruction and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularlywith improvements in the structure and fabrication of a sheet metal bodyfor a juvenile vehicle.

In juvenile vehicles of the type which are usually steerable and pedaldriven by a young rider accommodated therein, for customer acceptancethere is required a body construction which is not only rugged anddurable in use, but which also has a clean appearance in constructiondetails as well as over-all form. Of course, a comparatively low cost isalso highly desirable.

Prior structures and manufacturing methods for these sheet metal bodies,comprising a plurality of body components or sections have generallyinvolved a final body assembly having extended welded joint lengths inreadily visible external locations. One consequence of this conditionhas been that considerable labor has been required in assembling thebody in warping or fitting for welding where the shape of the componentsin the joint regions varied from strict complementary form; for exampleresulting from wear in the dies used in forming the components, or fromdistortion in handling the components; and then further labor incleaning up the joints to give an acceptable external appearance. Someof the prior structures moreover have required considerable hand laborin breaking or forming a main body partially formed by machine dieforming operations into final form about a buck for the final assembly,which again gave rise to a step in fabrication where variations of shapecould and did arise with the aforementioned disadvantages.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a sheetmetal body construction and also a method of fabricating the samemeeting commercial production requirements. A more specific object isthe provision of a sheet metal body construction and a method offabrieating the same wherein the formation of the body components may becarried out into the finished form of each by usual machine operationsof metal forming. A further object is the provision of a bodyconstruction and method of fabrication wherein a main body componentproviding in one piece front and rear fenders with connecting sidepanels and a hood, a front panel member providing a transversestructural element and closure for the front of the main body member,and back end closing and transverse reinforcing components may bebrought together in a final vehicle body with a minimum of external orvisible joints; and whereby the individual body components and finalassembly of the same may be carried out with a minimum of handoperations, while at the same time obtaining in the final vehicle body aneat appearance and rugged structure at a minimum cost. A still furtherobject is the provision of a basic body construction and method offabricating the same including a main body portion of the characterabove described and a front panel component, along with a seat componentas a portion of the rear body structure, which is readily adapted to achange in type of rear appearance primarily by use of various forms ofexternal rear elements.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionand the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the right front end of a juvenilevehicle body produced according to and embodying the present invention;with the vehicle wheels, steering column and wheel being shown in dashedoutline;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the body shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of a complete pedal-driven typejuvenile vehicle incorporating the body structure of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail in section taken at the line 4-4 of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main body component ready for assembly;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical transverse sectionthrough the forward portion of a fender and the hood taken as indicatedat line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view showing in outline formthe shape of the main body member at the line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a vertical transverse section through a rear fender portion ofthe main member taken as indicated at 8-8 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a front panel member serving to close the forward end of themain body member in a transverse beam fashion;

FIG. 10 is an end elevation at the right of FIG. 9, the left side of thevehicle;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view corresponding to FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the seat member forming a structuralelement of the body taken at the left of the vehicle;

FIG. 13 is a rear view corresponding to FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a left side elevational view of a rear panel forming a rearclosure for the main body member;

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the rear panel member corresponding to FIG.14, with a portion broken away;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary left side elevational view of a modified rearend portion of the vehicle body, showing the adaptability of the basicbody structure to production of differing back end body styling;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged side elevation of a fender extension pieceincluded in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a rear elevation corresponding to FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a left side elevation of an element of the structure of FIG.16; and

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary rear elevation corresponding to FIG. 19.

The general typical arrangement of the parts of the juvenile vehiclebody according to the present invention is seen in the perspective viewof FIG. 1; comprising the main body component B extending longitudinallyover the entire length of the vehicle, a front panel member F, anL-shaped seat piece S, and means terminating the back such as the rearpanel R more clearly seen in FIG. 2. The main body member B includes inan integral component, a hood formation H and depending skirts or sidepanels P; the latter extending over substantially the entire length ofthe vehicle (see also FIG. 3) and curving upwardly and over into the topregions 12 and 13 to provide front and rear wheel wells and fenderformations, and also defining with the dash board formation 15 (see FIG.5) the front and sides of a riders space. The front panel member F,including formation simulating an auto bumper at 20, radiator grill workat 21 and headlights at 22, welded to member B to complete the front endof the body per se as a front closure and structural beam element, ishereinafter described in detail for its form,

function and relation to member B, but it may be here noted that no seamor joint area is visible except at the bumper side regions.

Behind the front panel, the front fender regions of the side panelsprovide clear space for aflixing at each side a transverse beam-likerigid plate member through end flanges 26 conformed to the slight sidepanel vertical curvature by rivets 27 received in formed side panelrecesses 28. The beam member 25, serving as part of the mounting forfront steering wheels W-1 and steering gear mechanism and for the frontpart of the driving mechanism D, may for example be that disclosed inthe Douglas-Walter U.S. Patent 2,660,448. The body construction affordsample space for such mechanism as well as an associated forward brace29, anchored to the rear of panel F because of the rigidity of thelatter; and with proper spacing for support in a flanged opening ofpanel 15 for the upper part of the steering column wheel 33.

At the back portion of the body, the rear fender or wheel well regionsagain afford clear space for welded attachment of a transverse bodyrigidifying member, here the extended longitudinal edges of the seatmember S, and the rear panel member R in telescoped welded relation withthe separate ends of the rear fender portions of member B also providesa further rigidifying structural member as well as closing otf andcompleting the back of the body; all as hereinafter detailed. The underside of the seat bottom then serves as a rigid area for attachment of arear axle hanger for mounting a driving crank axle and rear wheels W-Z,such for example as disclosed in Douglas-Walters U.S. Patent 2,633,371.

Considering now the details of the body structure, the shape in plan ofmain body member B may be gathered from FIG. 5. As the vehicle, so themain body portion and the several other principal elements of the body,are symmetrical relative to a vertical longitudinal center plane throughthe vehicle as a whole. The hood and front fender portions occupysomewhat less than half the length of the body, and rearward of thepanel 15 sloped rearwardly and downwardly from the hood, two relativelynarrow rearward legs or extensions define a roughly U-shaped opening forthe driver space, the depending skirts in this region being rounded overin coming up to the top area 41 along the inner margin of the opening.

At the rear, free ends of the extensions 40 are completely curved overthe top region and downwardly along the inner margin at 42 to terminatein a flat inwardly extending tab or flange 43, While along the bottomedge of the side skirt, a shallow inwardly open recess or channel isformed by the outwardly offset portion of metal 45 and inturned bottomflange 46. (See FIG. 8, a vertical section taken substantially along 88in FIG. 5, on the left extension.) The bottom flange 46 is continuedover the entire bottom edge of each side panel from the rear to thefront, following the recesses or upward edge notches at wheel locationsto finish off and stiffen the free edges of the body. An inwardly curlededge roll or tubular bead 47 is formed continuously around the entireseat space opening from the forward edge of the curled over portion 42on one side to that on the other, again finishing otf and rigidifyingthe free edge of top areas 41 and of the dash panel formation 15. Thebead is carried slightly inwardly and downwardly in coming to atermination in the curled downward portion 42 terminating near theforward end of the flange 43.

The general form in rear elevation of rear panel member R is seen inFIG. 2; in side elevation in FIG. 14 and in a bottom view of FIG. 15. Atthe short sides 50 and along the rear at 51 the bottom portion is bulgedoutwardly to simulate an auto bumper, to provide a channellike regionactually serving as a bumper function by affording an outwardlyprojecting strengthened formation, less damaged by collision, and toprovide a keying or interfitting relation of the side bulges 50 slidinto the correspondingly shaped recesses 45 at the rear portion of themember B, somewhat analogous in this detail to Kraeft U.S. Patent2,633,378. Hence, the inward finishing and strengthening flange 52extends entirely across the bottom of the rear panel to be carriedforward along the side formation 50. In rear elevation outline (see FIG.2 and compare FIG. 8), the shape of R is conformed at each end to theinterior of the main body member extensions 40, along 46, 45, 41 and 42and then running generally straight across between and at the slope offlanges 43 on B. A forwardly, i.e., inwardly, directed continuous flangeformation provides the previously described side bulge formations 50,thereabove the flanges 53 extending up respective the sides thencontinuing over the top in the curved top flange at 54, which meet andcontinue into a generally transversely straight upwardly sloped topflange 55. The top flange 55 with pronounced forward extension, inaddition to its slope accommodated to the adjacent flanges 43, has ateach end an inwardly sloping or mitred edge 55a corresponding to rearmitred edges of the flanges 43 of the body member.

Accordingly, the body member B in the form of the terminal portions ofthe rearward extensions 40, and the outline shape and edge flanges ofthe rear panel member R are mutually adapted in shape so that the lattermay be partially telescoped into said rear extensions to provideextended overlapped areas for spot welding the two body elementstogether. Moreover, due to the relative independence of the rear ends ofbody member B and to the relatively small proportion of the periphery ofthe rear panel R that is interfitted therewith, it is relatively easy toobtain a closely conformed overlap of the metal in B with R for closeclean joints in spot welding.

In the rear panel member includes formations primarily decorative, as alicense plate feature at the area 57 simulated tail pipe openings orexhaust openings in the bumper at 58, tail or stop lights at 59; andothers rigidifying and strengthening the panel as well as havingdecoratvie features, as the inverted U-shaped beads 60, along with ageneral slight outward convexity or bowing.

The seat member S, generally L-shaped in side elevation, (FIG. 12)includes a generally horizontally extended bottom portion 61 and aslightly inclined back portion 62, both generally flat, but as hereshown preferably having spaced rib formations primarily for structuralreinforcement. In addition to the downward finishing and rigidifyingflange formation 64 across the entire straight front edge, the seatbottom portion has downward side flanges 65 conformed lengthwise to theinside regions of the side panels of main body member B (here having aslight inward curvature converging toward the rear as seen in FIG. 5) tofurnish mating seat and side panel surfaces for spot welding the seatmember S rigidly in place and thereby also form a transverse beam over amajor portion of the rider space.

The side edges of the seat back portions (see FIG. 13) including upwardprojections 62a at each end are generally conformed to the curvature ofthe interior of the body member in corresponding location, so that whenthe seat member is secured in place, a complete closure across the backof the rider space is provided; while the transversely straight topbetween the two projections 62a is reflected rearwardly in a generallyflat sloped flange 66, overlapping in final assembly the body flanges 43and the forward edge of the rear panel member top flange 55. Inside theprojections 62a, semi-circular notches 62b accommodate the inwardly anddownwardly curved end portions of the rolled edge 47 terminating inconcealed location behind the seat back 62. The dashed lines 64 and 66in FIG. 5 indicate in plan the total extent of the seat; and dashedlines 66, 55 also indicate the above-described overlapped relations offlanges 43, 55, 66 affording further areas where the seat member at backflange 66 is welded to the top surface of the respective flanges 43 atits side margins and to the forward top surface of the flange 55 overthe entire rear extent, thus further reinforcing the entire rear portionof the body.

Considering now the front end structure (see FIGS. 1 and 3) broadshallow inwardly facing channels or socket formations 70 are againprovided for reception of bumper side formations 20a of the front panel;and a continuous inward roll formation 71 follows the forward edge ofthe front fender regions of side panels P sloping forwardly and upwardlyto and crossing the flattened front fender top arches, and then slopingslightly inwardly and downwardly to a transverse middle portion boundingthe downwardly sloping central front area 10a of the hood.

The raised rib 73 at the top and rearwardly sloping sides of the dash15, and the straight valleys or depressions 75 beginning with a slightdepth outside the dash region to deepen and converge toward the slopedfront 10a, define a hood top area 10. The hood top has a generallystraight longitudinal slope from 73 to 10a (see FIGS. 1 and 3). In atransverse direction, the major extent of the hood top 10 has a slightconvexity which rounds off more sharply marginally into the depressions75, the marginal slope or curvature decreasing from rear to front asappears from the sections of FIGS. 7 and 6. Accordingly, the transversedimension of the slightly arched front fender top areas 12 increasesfrom rear toward front (FIG. Outside the generally parallel upwardlyformed decorative ribs 76, in a region aligned with or a continuation ofthe areas 41, the tops of the front fenders curve downwardly into theside skirt regions.

in addition to the structural strength and rigidity conferred on memberB by the various formations therein, the front panel F (see FIGS. 9, 10,11) is, of course, particularly important as a transverse beam structurein the body. In the front elevation of FIG. 9, the dashed outline ofadjacent parts of the body member B indicates the relation of themembers B and F and the conformity of the sides and top of F to theinterior of B. The bumper formation 20 is carried around sideways intorearward extension 20a shaped to partially telescope and key into thechannel formations 71. The rearwardly extending side or end portionsabove and continuous with the back margin of 20a have side flange areas80 continuing into top flanges 81 which drop down to join opposite endsof a generally straight transverse central flange 82. The describedcontinuous flange being conformed at 20a, 80, 81 to the interior ormember B, again offers an extended area of contact between the frontpanel member and the main body member B for spot Welding the two into arigid structure. Also (see FIGS. 9 and 10) at the top central portion ofmember F below the rearward flange 82 there is a forwardly, downwardlysloping generally straight flat area 83 With inclination conformed tothe hood front formation 10a, providing further spot welding area at thecenter region. Above the bumper formation rather sharply insettriangular areas or recesses 85 accommodate the inclined roll 71 at theends of F; and a bottom flange 86 also finishes off the entire bottomextent of the bumper formation.

Now when member F is placed in position in the front of the body memberB, as in FIG. 1, with the sloped area 83 contacting the back of 10a,with the bumper side formations 20a received in the channels '10 at thebottom of the main body section and with the sloping side parts of roll71 accommodated in the recesses 85, all of the joint areas between F andB above the bumper are concealed, since the top of F is spaced behindthe front top edges of the fenders, and the depressed hood front comesdown in front of the panel areas 8388.

It should be further noted that in the lengthwise or longitudinal regionwhere the side panel curves upwardly into the top portion of the body,both in the rear fender region or in the extension 40 and also in theregion of the forward fender top formations 12, the body is kept free ofall decorative and structural formations except at the front bead 71,for the purposes of fabrication method hereinafter detailed.

FIGS. 16-20 oifer an example of the adaptability of the basic bodystructure of this invention for other body styles, involving variationsin the rear structure. In the side elevation of FIG. 16 the body styleis modified by extending the body at the rear by use of tenderextensions X, but member B, front panel E and the seat member S are inall details similar to those previously described. Each fender extensionmember X (appearing for the left hand form in FIGS. 17 and 18 in sideand rear elevations) is shaped to conform to the interior of, and carryout rearwardly at the side 101 and curved top 103 the general lines of,the rear fender portion of the body member B previously described. Alongthe bottom, the extension member has an outwardly offset or bulgedformation inwardly flanged at 104 and shaped like the rear bumper 50 ofthe previously described rear panel member R; whereby the same isadapted to key or fit in the corresponding formation 45 and carry outrearwardly the line thereof to the back of the vehicle, whereby theforward edge of X may be telescoped and spot-welded in the opening ofthe rear fender portion of member B. The back edge of X has an inwardflange 105 running up the side to the top which includes strut-like arm105a spanning the rear opening and welded inside the flange 106.

A tail gate 109 is pivotally attached through cars 119 at the perforatedinset corners 108 of the fender extension and has latching ears 111 forengagement with slots 112; and at each side a bent tubular hand railmember 113 is secured through flattened front and rear ends by bolts orrivets 114, 115 to B and X, to provide in conjunction with the addedrear fender length a marked difference in style appearance of thevehicle. To close in the back region of the seat at the rear and also toprovide a luggage space, between the fender extensions there is securedthe generally L-shaped member Y comprising a generally flat horizontalfloor portion 118 and an upright front 119, and like the seat memberhaving downward spot welding flanges 120 along each side of 118conformable to the interior of sides 100 on members X, and a back flange121 both for safety and rigidity of the floor panel 118. The oppositeends or side margins of the generally flat upright front 119 is againshaped to conform to the interior of the extensions against which itabuts, and be tween the upward projections 119a includes a forwardlydirected flange 120 similar in size, shape and disposition to the topflange 55 of the member R. The forward flange 123 accordingly fitsbeneath and is spot welded to the rearward top flange 66 of the seatmember, the flange 123 again lying in a common plane with the flanges 43of the body and having mitred corners abutting therewith. The tailgate109 may be generally flat and provided merely with shallow decorativeformations in imitation of a bumper, stop lights and tail lights ratherthan heavily drawn features since 109 is not a stress bearing element.

The method of fabricating the main body component, member B, comprisessix principal steps. In a first blanking die operation, a flat blank ofsuitable size is formed from sheet metal such, for example, as 22 gauge1010 cold rolled steel for a final body about three feet long, 15 incheswide and 8 /2 inches high, the blank having excess marginal material forengagement by holddown bars or other clamping devices in subsequent dieforming operations. In a second step, the hood formation 10, 10a, theidentations or valleys 75, the ribs or ridges 76, and the curved rib 73along with the dash panel formations at 15 are completely formed by adraw die forming operation, and at the same time the side panel areas ofthe blank are given slight curvatures transversely and lengthwisecorresponding respectively to the slight convexity appearing in verticaldirection over the entirety of each side panel and over the entirelength thereof. The inward curvature at 42 at the back ends of theextensions 41 are likewise formed in this operation. However, on eachside of the drawn blank outward from a line extending backward through arib 76 to the curved region 42, the metal has only the slight downwardcurvature corresponding to the aforementioned side panel verticalcurvature, so that the blank still extends generally in a horizontaldirection relative to the much more deeply drawn central region of hoodand dash.

In a third operation, the metal is completely sheared out of the drawnblank at the central portion which will ultimately become the cockpit orrider space; and simultaneously the wheel housing or fender openings atfront and rear and all the excess marginal metal engaged by hold-downbars in previous operations are sheared away to produce a drawn trimmedblank of final dimensions.

The channels or recesses at 45 and 70 of the blank for receiving therear and front bumper formations are die formed in a fourth operationalong with the two inward ribs or grooves 77, 78 spaced inwardly alongeach edge of the blank, (in the final body running over the front fenderopening and along the side, and above the rear opening respectively). Ina fianging operation as the fifth die-forming step, the inward flange 46is produced along the entire side margins of the blank; and the metal isalso flanged across the entire blank front and along the margin of theseat opening partially to form the metal for the rolls 71 and 47respectively; the rolls 47 and 71 being completed in a sixth operationof curling, giving a finished" blank, which is still generallyhorizontally extended, as indicated by the direction of the dashed linesin FIGS. 6, 7, 8.

In the seventh or final die forming operation, the finished blank isbroken or bent downwardly at each side along its entire length, in theregion kept clear inside the edges for this very purpose of anytransverse beading or other type formations, the entire side lengththerefore being brought down into a final position for an invertedU-shape corresponding to that shown in the drawings in FIGS. 7 and 8.Although a central aperture in panel 15 for the steering column can beprovided in one of the earlier steps, along with the apertured recesses28 for plate 25 and other holes for mounting accessories, thesepreferably are made after the overall shape of member B is completed bylocalized operations not involving the dies working larger areas of theblank.

The front and rear panels F and R and the seat member S are formed byany suitable sequences of sheet metal forming operations involvingblanking, drawing, trimming and flanging to the final forms shown. Sincethe metal forming operations described for members B. S, F and R as suchare generally well known and their techniques widely used, no furtherdetails thereon are here supplied. The last named three members may beformed of sheet metal similar to that of the body, although it ispreferable that the seat member be somewhat heavier, say 20 gauge metalin the body example given.

At the front end of the asesmbly, after the top end of the front panelmember F has been brought up under and spaced behind the curled orrolled formation 71 with the center region behind the inclined centralhood portion 10a and the bumper side formations 20a fitted and keyedinto the channels 70, the abutting surfaces are spot welded from thebottom at the sides and over the tops to the depressed front region, andalso at a few locations between the inclined central regions 83 and 10a.

Before final assembly advantageously the rear panel member R and seatmember S are spot welded together along the regions of the overlappedflanges 55 and 66 to provide a sub-assembly. The sub-assembly is thenlocated in the rear opening of B with the end portions of R inserted inthe ends of the extensions 41 of the body, and the overlapped regionsare spot welded, aptly beginning at the bottom and working toward thetop, with seat flange 66 finally spotted onto the flanges or tabs 43. Inthis operation the outer bumper formations 50, received in the channels45 of the main body member, aid the assembly operation by theirinterlocking or keyed relation in accordance with the Kraeft Patent2,633,378. The side flanges 65 of the seat member S are then located inprecise position relative to the sides of M and spot welded thereto.

Thereafter, the transverse beam plate 25 is riveted into position, andthe entire body may be dip or spray painted as desired, beforeassembling the steering mechanism, drive mechanism and wheel inconventional fashion. Alternatively the seat member and rear panel maybe individually assembled to the body member B and any desired order ofassembly of F, R and S is possible.

With the aforedescribed body construction and method of fabrication, itis noted that not only the seat and panel members but also main bodymember B can be completely formed by metal die forming operations, sinceall structural or decorative formations in the blank for B are locatedoutside of the lines for the longitudinal break at each side. Thiseliminates the step of hand wrapping or breaking of a partially formedbody blank about a buck or jig as a step preliminary to assembly andwelding of other elements thereto. Moreover, the assembly of thedisclosed structure may be carried out without jigs.

Since readily visible joints between B and R occur only in bumper sideregions, attainment of an excellent fit or complementary shaping of theentire side and top periphery of the front panel member relative tocorresponding inner surfaces of the main member is not such a concern infabricating as with prior bodies. This is important since distortion ofcompleted components or die wear can lead to some variation in the fits.Prior methods and constructions with extended visible joints betweencomponents, particularly in the front or hood region required eitherexpensive die maintenance or replacement, or considerable finishing orclean-up operations along the joint region or both. Also since with someprior practices, manufacturing tolerances varied either with die wear orlater handling distortion of components, the assembly was more difficultand more time consuming for attainment of acceptable joints.

In the back end structure, the joints between the seat and main memberare generally well concealed since entirely within the cockpit; and thejoints there present occur between relatively flat seat flanges andcorrespondingly flat regions of the body member. At the rear panel, thejoints to the main member are each relatively limited at either side.Hence, any required local deformation of the main member to thetelescoped panel is easily achieved at each side over a relatively smallregion, since the fitting of the metal on one side is entirely free andindependent of that on the other, thereby facilitating the entireoperation. In consequence, each of the localized joints between the rearpanel member and the main body member are the more satisfactory inappearance and readily attained.

It is further to be noted that the basic body structuremain member,front panel seat, and rear closure for the latter-is still present inthe modified form of the vehicle type such as that appearing in FIGS.16-20; and further that the incorporation or assembly of the fenderextensions to the main member with acceptable joints is quite easilyachieved.

I claim:

1. In a drawn sheet metal juvenile vehicle body, a basic body structurecomprising: a one-piece main body member including a drawn hoodformation and extending laterally therefrom front fender top regions,said main member having generally parallel side panels dependent fromsaid top region to define therewith front Wheel wells and fenders,narrowed portions of the said top regions and also said side panelsbeing extended rearwardly beyond the hood to provide rear wheel Wellsand fenders and to define therebetween a rider space; a drawn frontpanel member having side and top margins generally conformed to theinterior of said main body member and provided with edge flangesabutting the interior of at least said side panels and fender topregions, the top margin and major extent of the side margins beingspaced rearwardly from the front edge of the main member, said flangesbeing spot welded to the main member to secure the panel member as afront closure and transverse beam element of the body; a roughlyL-shaped onepiece seat member having an upright back with a rearward topflange, said back being conformed at opposite sides from said top flangetoward the bottom to the interior shape of said side panels and saidnarrowed portions, said seat member also having a forwardly extendingbottom with dependent side flanges conformed to and welded to the sidepanels as a transverse beam member, said top flange being welded to saidnarrowed portions; and means for closing the back of said body memberrearward of said seat back.

2. The structure of claim 1,, wherein said main member has a centrallydepressed front portion and has along its front edge a continuous inwardroll formation extending upwardly along the side panels over the frontfender top regions and across said depressed front portion of the hoodformation to aid in concealing the region of abutment of the front panelwith the main member.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said means comprises a drawn rearpanel member having forwardly flanged opposite ends conformed and weldedto the interior shape of the back ends of the rearwardly extended sidepanels and narrowed portions, said rear panel mem ber having a straighttransverse top flange extending forwardly under and welded to the topflange of the seat member.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the front and rear panels havebumper simulating outward formations carried around the ends thereof,and the front and rear edges of the side panels have inward channelformations adapted to receive the bumper formations at the ends of thepanels.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the areas between theside panels and the front fender top regions and said narrowed portions[is] are devoid of drawn formations in the metal.

6. In a drawn sheet metal juvenile vehicle body, a basic body structurecomprising: a one-piece main body member including a drawn hoodformation and extending laterally therefrom front fender top regions,said hood formation terminating rearwardly in and transverselyrigidified by an integral rearwardly sloping dash board formation, saidmain member also having generally parallel side panels dependent fromsaid top region to define therewith front wheel wells and fenders,narrowed portions of the top regions and said side panels being extendedrearwardly beyond the hood to provide rear wheel wells and fenders andto define therebetween a rider space; a drawn front panel membertelescoped upwardly within the front of the main member and having sideand top margins generally conformed to the interior of said main bodymember and provided with edge flanges abutting the interior of at leastsaid side panels and fender top regions, the top margin and major extentof the side margins being spaced rearwardly from the front edge of themain member, said flanges being spot welded to the main member to securethe panel member as a front closure and transverse beam element of thebody; a roughly L-shaped one-piece seat member having an upright backwith a rearward top flange and conformed at opposite sides from said topflange toward the bottom to the interior shape of said side panels andnarrowed portions, and also having a forwardly extending bottom withdependent side flanges conformed to and welded to the side panels, as atransverse beam member, said top flange 10 being welded to said narrowedportions; and means for closing the back of said body member rearward ofsaid seat back.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein a continuous mwardly rolled tubularbead is provided along the inner edge of said narrowed portions and dashboard formation.

8. In a drawn sheet metal juvenile vehicle body, a basic body structurecomprising: a one-piece main body member including a drawn hoodformation and extending laterally therefrom front fender top regions,the hood formation including a top portion sloping forwardly from anelevation above the front fender top regions to a level below saidregions to terminate in a front portion depressed entirely below thesaid regions and set back from the front edge of the main member, saidmain member having generally parallel side panels dependent from saidtop region to define therewith front wheel wells and fenders, narrowedportions of the top regions and also said side panels being extendedrearwardly beyond the hood to provide rear wheel wells and fenders andto define therebetween a rider space; a drawn front panel member havingside and top flanges conformed to the interior shape of said side panelsand fender top regions and having a center portion received up behindthe depressed hood front; the top flanges, said center portion, and themajor extent of the side margins being spaced rearwardly form the frontedge of the main body member, said flanges and center portion being spotwelded to the main member to secure the panel member as a front closureand transverse beam element of the body; a roughly L-shaped one-pieceseat member having an upright back having a rearward top flange andconformed to opposite sides from said flanges toward the bottom to theinterior shape of said side panels and narrowed portions, and alsohaving a forwardly extending bottom with dependent side flangesconformed to and welded to the side panels as a transverse beam member,said top flange being welded to said narrowed portions; and means forclosing the back of the said body member rearward of said seat back.

9. A structure as set forth in claim 8 wherein the areas between theside panels and the front fender top regions and said narrowed portionsis devoid of drawn formations in the metal.

10. In a drawn sheet metal juvenile vehicle body, a basic body structurecomprising: a one-piece main body member including a drawn hoodformation and extending laterally therefrom front fender top regions,said main member having generally parallel side panels dependent fromsaid top region to define therewith front wheel wells and fenders, saidside panels being extended rearwardly beyond the hood to definetherebetwcen a rider space; a drawn front panel member having side andtop margins generally conformed to the interior of said main bodymember, the top margin and substantial extent of the side margins beingspaced rearwardly from the front edge of the main member, means forattaching said said front panel member to the main member to secure thepanel member as a front closure and transverse beam clcment of the body;a roughly L-shaped scat member having an upright back, said back beingconformed at 0pposite sides to the interior shape of said side panels,said seat member also having a forwardly extending bottom conformed toand attached to the side panels as a transverse bcam member, and meansfor closing the back of said body member rearward of said seat back.

11. The structure of claim 10, wherein said main member has a centrallydepressed front portion and has along its front edge a continuous inwardroll formation extending upwardly along the side panels over the frontfender top regions and across said depressed front portion of the hoodformation to aid in concealing the region of attachment of the frontpanel to the main member.

12. The structure of claim 10, wherein said means comprises a drawn rearpanel having forwardly flanged opposite ends conformed and attached tothe interior shape of the back ends of the rearwardly extended sidepanels.

13. The structure of claim 12 wherein the front and rear panels havebumper simulating outward formations carried around the ends thereof,and the front and rear edges of the side panels have inward channelformations adapted to receive the bumper formations at the ends of thepanels.

14. In a drawn sheet metal juvenile vehicle body, a basic body structurecomprising: a one-piece main body member including a drawn hoodformation and extending laterally therefrom front fender top regions,said hood formation terminating rearwardly in and transverselyrigidified by an integral rearwardly sloping dash board formation, saidmain member also having generally parallel side panels dependent fromsaid top region to define therewith front wheel wells and fenders, saidside panels being extended rearwardly beyond the hood to definetherebetween a rider space; a drawn front panel member telescopedupwardly within the front of the main member and having side and topmargins generally conformed to the interior of said main body member,the top margin and substantial extent of the side margins being spacedrearwardly from the front edge of the main member, means for attachingsaid front panel member to the main member to secure the panel member asa front closure and transverse beam element of the body; a roughlyL-shaped seat member having an upright back conformed at opposite sidesto the interior shape of said side panels and also having a forwardlyextending bottom conformed to and attached to the side panel as atransverse beam member; and means for closing the back of said bodymember rearward of said seat back.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein a continuous inwardly rolledtubular bead is provided along the inner edge of said dash boardformation.

16. In a drawn sheet metal juvenile vehicle body, a

basic body structure compirsing: a one-piece main body member includinga drawn hood formation and extend ing laterally therefrom front fendertop regions, the hood formation including a top portion slopingforwardly from an elevation above the front fender top regions to alevel below said regions to terminate in a front portion depressedentirely below the said regions and set back from the front edge of themain member, said main member having generally parallel side panelsdependent from said top region to define therewith front wheel wells andfenders, said side panels being extended rearwardly beyond the hood todefine therebetween a rider space; a drawn front panel member conformedto the interior shape of said side panels and fender top regions andhaving a center portion received up behind the depressed hood front;said center portion and the substantial extent of the side margins beingspaced rearward/y from the front edge of the main body member, means forattaching said front panel member to the main member to secure the panelmember as a front closure and transverse beam element of the body; aroughly L-shaped seat member having an upright back and conformed atopposite sides to the interior shape of said side panels, and alsohaving a forwardly extending bottom conformed to and attached to theside panels as a transverse beam member; and means for closing the backof the said body member rearward of said seat back.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,442,912 Stoddard Jan. 23, 1923 1,547,516 NeffJuly 28, 1925 2,036,813 Kraeft Apr. 7, 1936 2,192,534 Snell Mar. 5, 19402,633,378 Kraeft Mar. 31, 1953 2,814,524 Porsche et a1 Apr. 1, 19542,953,409 Barenyi Sept. 20, 1960

